U.S. patent number 4,908,611 [Application Number 07/384,083] was granted by the patent office on 1990-03-13 for head-up display apparatus for automotive vehicle.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Yazaki Corporation. Invention is credited to Tadashi Iino.
United States Patent |
4,908,611 |
Iino |
March 13, 1990 |
Head-up display apparatus for automotive vehicle
Abstract
To display various vehicle images or TV programs to a driver
taking a front seat or to a passenger taking a rear seat by a
head-up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle, the head-up
display apparatus comprises a driver half mirror disposed on the
dashboard, a passenger mirror disposed on a console box disposed
between two front seats, and a projector unit having a CRT and a
pivotal reflecting mirror driven by a motor from a first driver
position to a second passenger position or vice versa in response
to control signals from a control circuit.
Inventors: |
Iino; Tadashi (Susono,
JP) |
Assignee: |
Yazaki Corporation
(JP)
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Family
ID: |
13133655 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/384,083 |
Filed: |
July 24, 1989 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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169428 |
Mar 17, 1988 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 17, 1987 [JP] |
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62-60144 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
345/7; 353/13;
359/13; 340/980; 353/14; 359/630 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
11/02 (20130101); G02B 27/01 (20130101); G02B
27/0101 (20130101); G02B 27/0149 (20130101); G09G
3/002 (20130101); B60Q 3/10 (20170201); B60R
11/0235 (20130101); B60K 2370/334 (20190501); B60R
2011/0007 (20130101); B60R 2011/0028 (20130101); B60R
2011/0276 (20130101); G02B 2027/0154 (20130101); G02B
2027/0156 (20130101); G02B 2027/0165 (20130101); G02B
2027/0169 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60Q
3/00 (20060101); B60Q 3/04 (20060101); B60R
11/02 (20060101); G02B 27/01 (20060101); G09G
3/00 (20060101); B60R 11/00 (20060101); G02B
27/00 (20060101); G09G 001/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;340/97,98,705,980
;353/13,14 ;350/174 ;358/25,93,103,104 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Moore; David K.
Assistant Examiner: Fatahiyar; M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Wigman & Cohen
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of co-pending application Ser. No. 169,428,
filed on Mar. 17, 1988, now abandoned.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A head-up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle, which
comprises:
(a) first displaying means for displaying display images toward a
driver taking a front seat, said first displaying means being any
one of a half mirror and a hologram plate disposed on a dashboard
and inside a windshield;
(b) second displaying means for displaying display images toward a
passenger taking a rear seat, said second displaying means being a
mirror disposed at about a middle position between two front seats;
and
(c) projecting means for selectively projecting display images
toward any one of said first and second displaying means, said
projecting means being disposed at a ceiling within a passenger
compartment.
2. The head-up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set
forth in claim 1, wherein said projecting means comprises:
(a) a projector unit for projecting display images;
(b) a pivotal reflecting mirror for reflecting display images
projected from said projector unit; and
(c) an actuator for actuating said pivotal reflecting mirror to a
first position where display images projected from said projector
unit is reflected toward said first displaying means and a second
position where display images projected from said projector unit is
reflected toward said second displaying means.
3. The head-up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set
forth in claim 1, which further comprises a control circuit
including:
(a) vehicle sensors for detecting various vehicle information;
(b) a TV receiver for receiving TV program broadcastings;
(c) a stop sensor for detecting vehicle stop condition;
(d) a park sensor for detecting vehicle park condition:
(e) a selector switch coupled to said vehicle sensors and said TV
receives; and
(f) a controller, coupled to said projector unit, said actuator,
said stop sensor, said park sensor, and said selector switch, for
changing over said selector switch to connect said vehicle sensors
to said controller, when said stop and park sensors do not detect
vehicle stop-and-park conditions simultaneously, so that vehicle
information can be projected by said projector unit, and to connect
said TV receiver to said controller, when said stop and park
sensors detect vehicle stop-and-park conditions simultaneously, so
that TV programs can be projected by said projector unit.
4. The head-up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set
forth in claim 2, which further comprises a control circuit
including:
(a) vehicle sensors for detecting various vehicle information;
(b) a TV receiver for receiving TV program broadcastings;
(c) a stop sensor for detecting vehicle stop condition;
(d) a park sensor for detecting vehicle park condition;
(e) a selector switch coupled to said vehicle sensors and said TV
receives; and
(f) a controller, coupled to said projector unit, said actuator,
said stop sensor, said park sensor, and said selector switch, for
changing over said selector switch to connect said vehicle sensors
to said controller, when said stop and park sensors do not detect
vehicle stop-and-park conditions simultaneously, so that vehicle
information can be projected by said projector unit, and to connect
said TV receiver to said controller, when said stop and park
sensors detect vehicle stop-and-park conditions simultaneously, so
that TV programs can be projected by said projector unit.
5. The head-up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set
forth in claim 3, wherein said control circuit further comprises a
passenger selector switch, coupled to said controller, for
actuating said pivotal reflecting mirror to a second position where
display images projected from said projector unit is reflected
toward said second displaying means and for changing over said
selector switch to connect said controller to said vehicle sensors
or said TV receiver.
6. The head-up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set
forth in claim 2, wherein said actuator is a motor.
7. The head-up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set
forth in claim 2, wherein said projecting means further comprises
two projective lenses disposed between said pivotal reflecting
mirror and said first displaying means and between said pivotal
reflecting mirror and said second displaying means,
respectively.
8. The head-up display apparatus for an automotive vehicle as set
forth in claim 5, wherein said passenger selector switch further
comprises TV set switches.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a head-up display apparatus for an
automotive vehicle, and more specifically to an apparatus for
displaying various vehicle related information on a half mirror
disposed on the vehicle dashboard, so that the driver can see
displayed vehicle information, while seeing external views through
the windshield.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recently, a display apparatus called head-up display has been used
for an automotive vehicle, in which a display unit is disposed on
the dashboard so that the driver can see vehicle information while
seeing the outside view through the windshield during vehicle
running. The display unit is a half mirror or a hologram plate.
In this apparatus, on the other hand, a liquid crystal display, a
CRT (cathode ray tube), etc. are used as the projector unit to
project two-dimensional images such as road maps, TV programs, etc.
in addition to various vehicle information. However, since it is
not desirable to allow the driver to see TV programs during vehicle
running, the TV images can be displayed only when the vehicle stop
is detected. Therefore, there exists a problem in that passsengers
taking rear seats cannot watch TV programs while the vehicle is
running. In this connection, it may be possible to provide another
CRT for only TV broadcastings within the passenger compartment. In
this case, however, there exists another problem in that the
passenger compartment is narrowed by two CRTs.
In addition, in the head-up display apparatus as described above,
since the display unit is so arranged as to be recognized only by
the driver taking a front seat, there exists another problem in
that passengers taking rear seats cannot see road maps or TV
programs irrespective of vehicle running or vehicle halt.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With these problems in mind, therefore, it is the primary object of
the present invention to provide a head-up display apparatus for an
automotive vehicle for selectively displaying various vehicle
information and TV programs both recognizable for both the driver
and the passengers.
To achieve the above-mentioned object, a head-up display apparatus
for an automotive vehicle according to the present invention
comprises: (a) first displaying means for displaying display images
toward a driver taking a front seat; (b) second displaying means
for displaying display images toward a passenger taking a rear
seat; and (c) projecting means for selectively projecting display
images toward any one of said first and second displaying
means.
The first displaying means is a half mirror disposed on a
dashboard, and the second displaying means is a mirror disposed at
a middle portion between two front seats. The projecting means is
disposed at a ceiling of the passenger compartment, for
instance.
Further, the projecting means comprises: (a) a projector unit for
projecting display images; (b) a pivotal reflecting mirror for
reflecting display images projected from said projector unit; and
(c) an actuator for actuating said pivotal reflecting mirror to a
first position where display images projected from said projector
unit is reflected toward said first displaying means and a second
position where display images projected from said projector unit is
reflected toward said second displaying means.
Further, the projecting means is driven by a control circuit
including vehicle sensors, a TV receiver, a stop sensor, a park
sensor, a selector switch, and a controller for connecting the
vehicle sensors to the controller in response to no vehicle
stop-and-park signal so that vehicle information can be projected
by the projector unit or for connecting the TV receiver to the
controller in response to a vehicle stop-and-park signal so that TV
programs can be projected by the projector unit.
The control circuit further comprises a passenger selector switch
for actuating the pivotal reflecting mirror to a second position
where display images is reflected toward the second displaying
means or for changing over the selector switch to display vehicle
information or TV programs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The features and advantages of the head-up display apparatus for an
automotive vehicle according to the present invention will be more
clearly appreciated from the following description of the preferred
embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which the like reference numerals
designate corresponding elements and in which:
FIG. 1A is an illustration for assistance in explaining the first
state where CRT images are reflected toward a driver in the head-up
display apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to the
present invention;
FIG. 1B is an illustration for assistance in explaining the second
state where CRT images are reflected toward a passenger in the same
head-up display;
FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view showing a projector unit of the
apparatus of the present invention, including a block diagram,
which indicates the first state;
FIG. 2B is the similar view, which indicates the second state;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the driver and passenger
display units of the present invention arranged within a passenger
compartment of an automotive vehicle; and
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for assistance in explaining an examplary
operation of the controller.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to the attached drawings, the head-up display
apparatus for an automotive vehicle according to the present
invention will be disclosed hereinbelow.
The feature of the head-up display apparatus is to reflect display
images projected from a projector unit 1 to a driver 4a taking a
front seat via a first driver display unit 2 as shown in FIGS. 1A
and 3 or to a passenger 4b taking a rear seat via a second
passenger display unit 3 as shown in FIGS. 1B and 3.
To selectively project display images to the driver or the
passenger, the projector unit 1 is provided with a pivotal
reflector 12, as shown in FIG. 2A driven by a motor 15 controlled
by a controller 21.
In FIG. 2A, the projector unit 1 comprises a CRT (cathode ray tube)
11, a mirror 12, and a motor 15, all being arranged within a
projector housing 16. The mirror 12 is connected to the motor 15
via a sector bevel gear and a pinion bevel gear. Therefore, when
the motor 15 is driven in either direction, the mirror 12 is
pivoted from a first driver position as shown in FIG. 2A to a
second passenger position as shown in FIG. 2B. Further, the housing
16 is formed with two apertures 13a and 13b at the lower portion
thereof. Two projective lenses 14a and 14b are fitted to these two
aperture portions 13a and 13b, respectively. Therefore, images
displayed on the CRT 11 is reflected from the mirror 12 to the
first driver display unit 2 through the first projective lens 13a
and to the second passenger display unit 3 through the second
projective lens 14a. In general, the focal length of the first
projective lens 13a is relatively longer than that of the second
projective lens 13b.
To selectively display various vehicle information and TV programs
for both the driver and the passenger, the projector unit 1 is
actuated by a control circuit as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B.
The control circuit comprises a controller 21 (e.g. CPU including a
ROM, RAM, etc.) for controlling the entire operation of the
apparatus; a CRT driver 22 for controlling the output of the CRT
11; a motor driver 23 for driving the motor 15; vehicle information
sensors 24 for detecting various vehicle information such as
vehicle speed, fuel pump on-off operation, etc., engine speed, road
map, etc.; a TV signal receiver 25, a selector switch 26 for
selectively inputting the output signals of the vehicle sensors 24
or those of the TV receiver 25 to the controller 21 in response to
a selector signal generated from the controller 21; stop sensors 27
for detecting vehicle stop conditions such as a side brake
application, for instance; park sensors 28 for detecting vehicle
park conditions such as fuel supply pump stop, for instance; and a
passenger selector switch 30.
As depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the projector unit 1 is fixed to
the ceiling within the passenger compartment. However, without
being limited thereto, it is possible to dispose the projector unit
1 at any position within the passenger compartment. In this case,
it may be necessary to additionally provide an optical system to
effectively guide display images from the projector unit 1 to the
display units 2 and 3.
As depicted in FIG. 3, the first driver display unit 2 is a half
mirror or a hologram plate disposed on the dashboard and inside the
windshield. The second passenger display unit 3 is a mirror
disposed on a console box at the middle portion between the two
front seats. The first drive display unit 2 reflects display images
from the CRT 11 to the driver 4a taking a front seat. The second
passenger display unit 3 reflects display images from the CRT 11 to
the passenger 4b taking a rear seat. Further, as shown in FIG. 3,
the passenger selector switch 30 includes a first switch 30a for
compulsorily reflect display images from the projector unit to the
second display unit 3, a second switch 30b for selecting vehicle
information or TV programs, and various TV set buttons for
controlling the operations of the TV receiver 25.
The operation of the display apparatus of the present invention
will be described hereinbelow.
(1) When the ignition switch is turned on, the selector switch 26
is automatically set to vehicle sensors 24 and further the
controller 21 outputs a motor driving signal to the motor driver 23
to drive the motor 15. Therefore, the mirror 12 is positioned at a
first driver position, so that the driver can see the vehicle
information detected by the vehicle sensors 24 and displayed on the
first driver display unit 2.
(2) When the vehicle stops and parked, the stop sensor 27 and the
park sensor 28 both output signals to the controller 21, so that
the selector switch 26 is set to the TV receiver 25 in response to
a control signal outputted from the controller 21. Therefore, the
driver can see TV programs received by the TV receiver 25 and
displayed on the first driver display unit 2, only when the vehicle
is stopped and further parked.
(3) When the passenger taking a rear seat turns on a first switch
30a of the passenger selector switch 30 (shown in FIG. 3), the
controller 21 outputs a motor driving signal to the motor driver 23
to drive the motor 15. Therefore, the mirror 12 is positioned at a
second passenger position, so that the passenger can see the
vehicle information detected by the vehicle sensors 24 or TV
programs received by the TV receiver 25. Either one of the vehicle
information and the TV programs can be selected when the passenger
changes over the second switch 30b of the passenger selector switch
30.
Further, since various TV set switches 30c (channel selector, sound
volume control, etc.) are arranged in the passenger selector switch
30, the passenger can adjust the TV program receiving conditions.
Further, it is preferable to reset the selected conditions of the
first and second switches 30a and 30b whenever the ignition switch
is turned off.
FIG. 4 is a flowchart for assistance in explaining an exemplary
operation of the controller 21 shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. With
reference to FIG. 4, control first checks whether the park sensor
28 is turned on (in step 1). If YES, control further checks whether
the stop sensor 27 (e.g. the fuel pump) is turned off (in step 2).
If YES, since this indicates that the vehicle is kept parked at
engine halt, the selector switch 26 is to be set to the TV receiver
25. Therefore, when control determines YES (in step 3), control
proceeds to step 4 to check whether the first switch 30a of the
passenger selector switch 30 is turned on (in step 4). If YES,
control activates the motor driver 23 to a second position at which
the mirror 12 is directed to the passenger to display a TV program
(in step 7). However, if NO (in step 4), control activates the
motor driver 23 to a first position at which the mirror 12 is
directed to the driver to display a TV program (in step 6).
Further, if the park sensor is turned off (in step 1) or the fuel
pump is turned on (in step 2), the selector switch 26 is set to the
vehicle sensors 24. Therefore, control determines NO (in step 3).
Since this indicates that the vehicle or engine is running, the
vehicle information is to be displayed. That is, control proceeds
to step 5 to check whether the first switch 30a of the passenger
selector 30 is turned on (in step 5). If YES, control activates the
motor driver 23 to a second position at which the mirror 12 is
directed to the passenger to display vehicle information (in step
8). However, if No (in step 5), control activates the motor driver
23 to a first position at which the mirror 12 is directed to the
driver to display vehicle information (in step 9).
Further, although not shown in FIG. 4, where the second switch 30b
of the passenger selector switch 30 is set to TV, the selector
switch 26 is compulsorily set to the TV receiver 25. Where the
second switch 30b is set to vehicle information (e.g. SPEED), the
selector swtich 26 is compulsorily set to the vehicle sensors
24.
As described above, in the head-up display apparatus for an
automotive vehicle according to the present invention, since the
projector unit provided with a pivotal reflecting mirror is
disposed at the ceiling of the passenger compartment and further
the reflecting mirror is selectively pivoted, it is possible to
selectively display images on the first driver display unit (half
mirror) or on the second passenger display unit (mirror). Further,
the driver can see vehicle information and TV programs (only when
vehicle is kept stopped and parked), and the passenger can see both
with priority.
* * * * *